Miguel Praga

🗺 Participants at the second National Meeting of Spanish Travel Agencies in Santander, organized by CEAV, express concerns over regional travel programs for seniors. Carlos Garrido, CEAV's president, highlights "cannibalization" in the sector due to these programs, with communities like Madrid, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura setting prices without providing funding. Vice President José Manuel Lastra notes sales outside the region harm agency profitability. Suggestions include creating redeemable travel vouchers to address the issues.

✈ SmartLynx, originally based in Latvia, ceased operations after 33 years. As of now, it only operated four aircraft in Nigeria. Recently, ownership transferred to a hastily formed company in Amsterdam. Avia Solutions Group sold the Latvian airline, not affecting SmartLynx Estonia, Malta, or Australia. Employees are concerned about unpaid October and November salaries, potentially leading to legal disputes. At its peak, SmartLynx managed over 100 aircraft. Wamos previously considered acquiring SmartLynx, but Abra Group, Avianca's owner, succeeded.

✈️ 21 November, the FAA issued an advisory regarding air operations in Venezuela. IATA criticized the "ambiguous" message, leading to widespread safety concerns. Airlines like Iberia and Air Europa ceased flights due to potential risks from increased military activity. IATA seeks clearer guidance from the FAA and ICAO to ensure coordinated international responses. The advisory is seen more as a pressure tactic against Nicolás Maduro's regime than a true military threat.

💸 Ávoris, July 2024, in Spain, addresses a 100-euro surcharge error affecting Imserso trips—an issue impacting Turismo Social and Mundicolor. The problem stems from data-sharing difficulties between bidders, mistakenly treating first trips as second ones. Pensioners expressed frustration on social media, with some filing complaints to Imserso. Options given include canceling and rebooking, risking losing their spot, or paying the €100 and later claiming a refund. Ávoris describes these as isolated incidents.